Product Description On his new project Sweet, the award-winning artist blends his music into a truly unique and fresh sound gathered from his classical, jazz, and pop experience. Sweet is a concept album about a juvenile carnivorous dinosaur that becomes orphaned. The series of songs on the CD represents different experiences this animal has as it struggles to survive. The story is an original inspiration based on actual published research, which Stan has authored in the fields of dinosaur physiology and behavior. The CD also features the guitar musings of Dean McGraw and Rik Stirling. Review Sometimes, a work comes along that is so unique that a review can scarcely communicate the recording's essence. Such is the case with Stan O'Daffer's new release, Sweet. Sweet is not just a concept album; it is part of an ambitious attempt to unite the written word with music in an exciting way. It turns out that Stan, a Minneapolis keyboard artist, is also an accomplished writer, as well as a paleontology buff. So, besides the album Sweet, there is also the book Sweet, due out at about the same time as the CD. All in all, the scope of this recording is such that, as I said to Stan recently, it's a hard sell to any but the most open-minded. Jazz fans may be put off by the rock or "new age" textures. New age music fans might recoil at the outright rock and jazz songs. And as for ambient lovers, forget it. But, if your tastes are broad enough and your spirit adventurous enough, the rewards which Sweet offers are many. -- Stan ODaffer, Wind&Wire Music Reviews and Interviews About the Artist Stan O'Daffer - Biography Raised in the mid-western industrial town of Decatur, Illinois, Stan's musical beginnings were as a drummer in his high school jazz band. He and his fellow band members won numerous awards and accolades including two Down Beat magazine student recording "DeeBee" awards for best high school jazz band in 1981 and 1982. In '83 the band performed and recorded one of his songs. After high school, Stan attended Illinois State University as a music composition major. He studied with the international award-winning composer Roque Cordero and jazz under James Boitos. During this period, he composed numerous classical and jazz compositions including a string quartet, brass quintet, piano trio, and several pieces for the jazz band. With the university jazz band, Stan performed as pianist with such jazz legends as Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry. He also co-founded the groundbreaking fusion band Abstract Notion. After college, Stan moved from central Illinois to Minneapolis. Shortly thereafter, he became involved in numerous recording projects. Working as co-composer and keyboardist with international New Age harpist Marnie Jones, Stan's music propelled Jones's CD Divine Blush into Billboard's New Age chart in 1991. It reached number 19 and remained on the charts for 14 consecutive weeks. In the winter of 1991, Stan joined the European tour band of Ingrid Chavez, protege to the artist formally known as Prince. In 1997 he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. On Stans first solo recording project, Distance, he channeled all of his eclectic musical experience into a uniquely stylistic recording. Included on the CD is a new version of Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street", enthusiastically approved by Mr. Gabriel. This CD was nominated by the Minnesota Music Academy for best instrumental recording of 1996. Stan's newest project is a realization of years of research and determination to combine his two loves (paleontology and music) together in one inspired work. Sweet is a conceptual album about a juvenile dinosaur that becomes orphaned and struggles to survive. Each song from the piece was written to illuminate a scene from the story, in sort of a contemporary tone poem fashion. The result is a large array of styles, tailored to best illustrate the storyline. The story for the project developed from research Stan was doing on predatory Jurassic dinosaurs in preparation for a presentation at a scientific conference. Even though Stan's research was published, the thought of incorporating his own scientific hypotheses into a fictional story seemed a more enjoyable way to describe his unique views of dinosaurian life and times. Performances by guitarist's Dean McGraw, Rik Stirling, Boiled-in-Lead violinist David Stenshoel, and saxman David Marden, enrich the quality of the CD. Band members: Stan O'Daffer - Piano, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion Rik Stirling - Guitars, Bass, Drums Dean McGraw - Guitar David Syenshoel - Fiddle David Marden - Tenor Sax Tom Beyer - Trumpet Tim Perry - Cello See more